Budget COW-Continuation of Late Items/Recommendations/etc

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Budget Committee of the Whole met on June 9, 2011, at 3:00 p.m., presided over by the Vice Mayor. During the meeting, the committee addressed nine agenda items, taking 19 votes and hearing 7 public comments. The committee approved eight of the nine items on the agenda, including discussions on Berry Hill & Constitution Pool, Links Recommendations, Councilmember Recommendations, Possible Bond Projects, Revenue Update, Other Business, and the FY 12 Council Budget Schedule. The committee also approved continuation of late items discussion. One item—Non Budgetary Recommendations—was deferred rather than approved.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on June 9, 2011:

• Chief Ronnie Bastin
• Connie Underwood
• Jamie Emmons
• David Barrow
• Ryan
• Janet Graham
• Commissioner Griskell
• Commissioner Graham
• Council Member Stennett
• Council Member Ellinger
• Council Member Farmer
• Council Member McCord
• Council Member Lawless
• Council Member Martin
• Council Member Henson
• Council Member Myers
• Council Member Lane
• Council Member Blues
• Council Member Ed Lane
• Council Member Beard

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The council took 19 votes during this meeting, with 17 passing and 2 failing.

Passed Motions:

• Approval of immunizations program funding at $44,000, moved by Council Member Farmer and seconded by Council Member Blue 1:05:33
• Approval of Avon Golf Course closure savings of $61,547, moved by Council Member Ellinger and seconded by Council Member Farmer 1:09:44
• Approval of $20,000 for temporary personnel in Mayor's office, moved by Council Member Henson and seconded by Council Member Stennett 1:27:39
• Amendment to remove $92,615 funding for Project Manager in Public Works, moved by Council Member Stennett and seconded by Council Member Myers 1:38:20
• Amendment to approve half of $92,615 ($46,307.50) for Project Manager in Public Works, moved by Council Member Stennett and seconded by Council Member Lane 1:41:06
• Approval of $900,000 correction for fire hydrant rental, moved by Council Member Farmer and seconded by Council Member Blue 1:44:55
• Approval of $41,620 for Valley View Ferry funding, moved by Council Member Lane and seconded by Council Member Farmer 1:47:02
• Approval of $57,165 for traffic sign installation, moved by Council Member Martin and seconded by Council Member Farmer 1:57:05
• Approval of correction to personnel model for security officer and parks/social services, moved by Council Member Ellinger and seconded by Council Member Martin 2:00:27
• Approval of $500,000 for parking garage repairs, moved by Council Member Lane and seconded by Council Member Lawless 2:13:20
• Approval of $66,255 to keep Berry Hill and Constitution Pools open, moved by Council Member McCord and seconded by Council Member Myers 2:20:23
• Approval of $1,000,000 for council-designated projects, moved by Council Member Myers and seconded by Council Member Lane 2:22:26
• Amendment to transfer $1,000,000 from Government Center 2010A bond to E911 radio system, moved by Council Member Stennett and seconded by Council Member McCord 2:28:00
• Approval of $3,500,000 reallocation from previously authorized bonds for E911 radio system, moved by Council Member Martin and seconded by Council Member Stennett 2:36:53
• Approval of $1,000,000 correction for PDR error, moved by Council Member Henson and seconded by Council Member Stennett 2:35:15
• Motion to change Committee of the Whole budget meeting to June 14, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., moved by Council Member Stennett and seconded by Council Member Farmer 2:44:07
• Motion to change special council meeting to ratify budget to 3:00 p.m. on June 14, 2011, moved by Council Member Stennett and seconded by Council Member Farmer 2:46:22

Failed Motions:

• Approval of $201,440 correction for security outsourcing savings, moved by Council Member Ellinger and seconded by Council Member McCord. This electronic vote resulted in 12 ayes and 0 nays 1:53:49
• Approval of $25,000 for aquatics master plan, moved by Council Member Myers and seconded by Council Member Lane 2:16:06

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed nine financial items totaling approximately $7.37 million in budget amendments, appropriations, and contracts:

Amendments - Fire hydrant rental budget correction to the Water Company: $900,000 - Security outsourcing savings adjustment: $201,440 - PDR correction funding: $1,000,000

Appropriations - Valley View Ferry funding: $41,620 - Traffic sign installation: $57,165 - Parking garage repairs: $500,000 - Aquatics master plan: $25,000 - Public Works Project Manager funding: $46,307.50

Contracts - E911 radio system (Phase I) funding through the E911 Fund: $5,500,000

The largest single expenditure was the E911 radio system Phase I contract at $5.5 million. Infrastructure and facility improvements comprised a significant portion of the appropriations, including $500,000 for parking garage repairs and $57,165 for traffic sign installation. The meeting also addressed operational adjustments, including a $201,440 amendment related to security outsourcing savings and a $900,000 correction to fire hydrant rental costs. Additional funding supported public amenities and services, including the Valley View Ferry ($41,620), an aquatics master plan ($25,000), and staffing for Public Works ($46,307.50).

Public Comment

Several council members and city officials addressed budget and operational concerns during the meeting.

Police Department Staffing 1:11 Chief Ronnie Bastin presented the police department's need to reassign personnel from specialized units back to patrol due to budget constraints and attrition. He cited a $9 million health care shortfall that prevented funding a recruit class. Chief Bastin emphasized that the reorganization would be temporary and stressed the importance of retaining key units.

Confiscated Funds 22:20 Council Member Stennett questioned whether $1.1 million in confiscated funds could be used to support police officers or services. He noted restrictions on using asset forfeiture money for recurring expenses and called for careful management of these funds.

Overtime Management 27:36 Council Member McCord praised the police department's overtime management, noting a significant $600,000 reduction from $2.2 million to $1.6 million. He emphasized the importance of recognizing this achievement.

Police Salary Comparisons 37:21 Council Member Martin raised concerns about high salaries for middle and upper management in police and fire departments compared to other cities. He suggested that past salary increases may have contributed to current budget constraints.

Project Manager Funding 32:10 Council Member Farmer questioned the funding of a project manager for a full year when the project would end earlier. He expressed concerns about the lack of a dedicated workload after the project concludes.

E911 Radio System Funding 1:50:58 Council Member Stennett argued for bonding the $1 million for the E911 radio system instead of using general fund cash, citing the critical nature of public safety and the need for long-term funding.

Parking Garage Repairs 2:08:13 Council Member Lane emphasized the public safety importance of repairing parking garages, stating that they are not in good condition and must be addressed to ensure safety.

Contested Items

The June 9, 2011 meeting included three items that generated significant debate among council members.

Funding for Project Manager in Public Works

Council members disagreed over whether to fund a full-year position for a project manager in Public Works when the underlying project would conclude before the year ended. The debate centered on fiscal responsibility and ensuring that staffing levels aligned with actual workload needs. The motion was amended to approve only half the requested funding, reflecting council concerns about spending resources on a position that would not be fully utilized for the entire budget period.

Use of Bond Proceeds for E911 Radio System

A heated discussion arose regarding the financing approach for the E911 radio system. Council members debated whether to use bond proceeds rather than general fund cash to cover the costs. Proponents of bonding argued that this approach would protect the general fund from strain and preserve resources for other priorities. This discussion resulted in a reallocation of funds, with bond proceeds being directed toward the E911 radio system instead of council projects.

Aquatics Master Plan Funding

The council considered a proposal to fund a $25,000 aquatics master plan but ultimately rejected it. Council members raised concerns about the timing of the expenditure and noted the absence of community consensus supporting the plan. Despite receiving support from some council members, the proposal did not advance due to these objections.

Continuation of Late Items Discussion

1:00:16

The committee continued its review of late-agenda items, addressing several financial and operational matters that required approval or amendment.

Key Participants

The discussion involved Connie Underwood, Council Member Stennett, and Council Member Farmer.

Items Reviewed

The committee examined late items spanning three primary areas:

• Budget corrections
• Funding for security
• Adjustments to personnel and project costs

Outcome

The late items under discussion were approved, with certain items amended based on the committee's assessment of financial and operational needs.

Berry Hill & Constitution Pool

The committee addressed funding to keep Berry Hill and Constitution Pools open. 2:17:12

Council Member McCord and Council Member Myers participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

The committee confirmed approval of $66,255 to maintain operations at both pools. This funding followed prior council approval and a second reading of the measure.

The motion to approve the funding passed unanimously.

Links Recommendations

The committee reviewed and approved several link recommendations during this agenda item. 1:45:59

Key Speakers

Council Member Lane and Council Member Martin participated in the discussion of these recommendations.

Items Reviewed and Approved

The committee approved the following recommendations:

• Funding for Valley View Ferry
• Traffic sign installation
• Corrections to the fire hydrant rental budget

Process and Outcome

These link recommendations were integrated into the late items process. The committee approved all items under discussion.

Councilmember Recommendations

During this agenda item, council members presented individual recommendations for consideration. 2:15:04

Key Speakers and Proposals

Council Member Myers and Council Member Stennett were the primary speakers during this discussion, each bringing forward separate recommendations for council action.

Aquatics Master Plan

One recommendation involved funding for an aquatics master plan. This proposal was discussed by the council but ultimately rejected and did not move forward.

E911 Radio System Bond Reallocation

A second recommendation addressed the use of bond proceeds for an E911 radio system. This proposal involved reallocating existing bond funds toward this infrastructure project. Unlike the aquatics plan, this recommendation was approved by the council.

Outcome

The agenda item concluded with mixed results: the aquatics master plan funding was not approved, while the bond reallocation for the E911 radio system was approved.

Possible Bond Projects

The committee discussed the allocation of bond proceeds for two primary projects: an E911 radio system and parking garage repairs. 2:28:00

Council Member Stennett and Council Member Martin were the key speakers during this discussion.

The committee approved a reallocation of bond funds from council projects to the E911 radio system. This reallocation was undertaken to avoid the need for new bonding, allowing the municipality to fund the radio system upgrade through existing bond proceeds rather than issuing additional debt.

The outcome of the discussion was approval of the proposed bond fund reallocation.

Non Budgetary Recommendations

2:15:04

The committee discussed non-budgetary items during this agenda item, with Council Member Stennett and Council Member Myers serving as key speakers.

The discussion addressed two primary matters:

Asset Forfeiture Funds The committee considered the use of asset forfeiture funds, though specific details regarding proposed allocations or uses were not detailed in the available information.

Aquatics Master Plan A new aquatics master plan was presented to the committee. However, concerns were raised regarding the timing and cost of the proposed plan, which prevented immediate approval.

Outcome The aquatics master plan was deferred, allowing the committee additional time to address the concerns raised about both its timing and financial implications before moving forward with implementation.

Revenue Update

Connie Underwood presented an updated revenue and appropriation summary during this agenda item 2:46:54. The presentation included revised financial projections incorporating approved late items and adjustments to the budget.

Key Presentation Points:

• Projected fund balance of $1.5 million at the end of FY12

Outcome:

The revenue update was approved.

Other Business

2:44:07

The committee addressed scheduling adjustments during the Other Business portion of the meeting.

Discussion

Council Member Stennett and Council Member Martin discussed changes to upcoming meeting dates to accommodate budget review work. The committee considered moving the next budget meeting to June 14th at 9 a.m., with the ratification meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. on the same day. This adjustment was intended to provide additional time for budget-related work between the two meetings.

Outcome

The proposed scheduling changes were approved.

FY 12 Council Budget Schedule

2:44:07

The committee discussed and finalized the schedule for the remainder of the fiscal year 2012 budget process. Council Member Stennett and Council Member Farmer were the key speakers during this agenda item.

The discussion focused on establishing meeting times to ensure all budget items could be completed before the end of June. The committee set new meeting times for June 14th as part of the effort to maintain the budget timeline and complete necessary budget deliberations within the specified timeframe.

The outcome of this discussion was approval of the proposed FY 12 Council Budget Schedule.